Thursday, 29 March 2018

29th March 2018 Unst SE4-5 Overcast but cleared

A strong southeasterly and plenty of rain yesterday was presumably responsible for the good numbers of Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings on the island today that also included 7 Song Thrushes. A walk around Skaw also produced a juvenile Glaucous Gull, a Wood Pigeon and a Snow Bunting. The same Glaucous Gull was then present at Lamba Ness. At Norwick we saw our first Sparrowhawk for the year, we flushed a Woodcock, there were 2 Wood Pigeon, a new Dunnock and our first Goldcrest of the year. The juvenile Iceland Gull was still present at Uyeasound. Nearby we saw a migrant flock of 26 Ringed Plovers in one of the fields towards Muness. Best was saved to last as 2 Jack Snipe were seen busily feeding sewing-machine-style in the open at Haroldswick pools this evening.